Optimizing Waste Heat Utilization in Vehicle Bio-Methane Plants

Feng Zhen, Jia Zhang, Wenzhe Li, Yongming Sun and Xiaoying Kong
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Feng Zhen: Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO. 2 Nengyuan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China
Jia Zhang: Guangzhou Special Pressure Equipment Inspection and Research Institute, Guangzhou 510000, China
Wenzhe Li: College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Yongming Sun: Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO. 2 Nengyuan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China
Xiaoying Kong: Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO. 2 Nengyuan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Current vehicle bio-methane plants have drawbacks associated with high energy consumption and low recovery levels of waste heat produced during the gasification process. In this paper, we have optimized the performance of heat exchange networks using pinch analysis and through the introduction of heat pump integration technology. Optimal results for the heat exchange network of a bio-gas system producing 10,000 cubic meters have been calculated using a pinch point temperature of 50 °C, a minimum heating utility load of 234.02 kW and a minimum cooling utility load of 201.25 kW. These optimal parameters are predicted to result in energy savings of 116.08 kW (19.75%), whilst the introduction of new heat pump integration technology would afford further energy savings of 95.55 kW (16.25%). The combined energy saving value of 211.63 kW corresponds to a total energy saving of 36%, with economic analysis revealing that these reforms would give annual savings of 103,300 USD. The installation costs required to introduce these process modifications are predicted to require an initial investment of 423,200 USD, which would take 4.1 years to reach payout time based on predicted annual energy savings.

Keywords: vehicle bio-methane; pinch analysis; heat pump integration; energy conservation; economic efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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